The Sparks

CH. 1

CH. I

"Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything." –Gustave Flaubert

Song: There She Goes – The La's

Elliot Stone was an average man. He had an average posture, an average job and average hobbies. He woke up at average times and ate average food. He could be your teacher, your neighbour, your doctor or the guy at the supermarket. The only thing that wasn't average about Elliot Stone was the fact that he was obsessed with perfection. Of course everyone is slightly obsessed with perfection, after all we all want what we can't have. But Elliot dedicated his life to being perfect.

Other than that Elliot Stone was an average man on the outside. Average height, medium brown hair, average shoe size, brown eyes, and an average job.

On the inside however he was extremely unhappy with the world. Everyone seemed dull, missed a certain spark. Everyone was the same: talking about their relationships, their jobs, being normal. It was not even being normal it was just being boring. No spark equalled uninteresting to Elliot. He had never met someone with a certain spark. But that all changed on the most average day you can imagine: a rainy Tuesday.

Elliot was drinking his usual cup of coffee at the usual time, 12:30, when it – or better said she- happened. She had one of those rare smiles. That smile that tells you that everything will be all right. A smile that tells you "I'm listening, I'm interested, I care: go on!" A smile that told you that she did understand. She walked on the pavement with that smile plastered on her face while talking to her friend. And then Elliot realised that she had it. She had a spark. She didn't have the spark, the long lasting one, but she wasn't dull, boring, or normal. This girl, this woman, had something special.
And that is when an average man on an average day got an unusual big idea.

Elliot Stone reacted as any human does when one gets a big idea. He panicked. He was overjoyed and nervous because how, how on earth would he do this? He searched like a madman for a pen in his book bag, he scribbled the idea in a few words on the napkin and than stared lost at his empty cup of coffee. He was absolutely amazing, stunned, consumed by this big idea. A few hours ago mundane daily things (like his job, or the way his hair was) were the world to him. Now nothing really mattered than this idea. Not even the waitress who was looking annoyed at him while saying: "Sir. Sir! Your bill?"
Well, maybe the last one a little bit. After his work, lunch and more work Elliot went home. But not in his normal calm way: he rushed. Elliot never rushed anywhere. He hated being late to anything and always was extremely on time. Which is why he earned a few strange looks from his co-workers. But nothing really mattered, nothing absolutely and utterly nothing except this idea.

This was it.

Before I go on about this big idea you first must learn more about Elliot Stone.
Perfectionist would be a loose term to describe him. He did not only aim for perfection, no, he was obsessed with it. Because everything had to be perfect, including him. If you walked into his apartment you would have thought that you walked into a catalogue. Everything was always clean, straight and spotless. His papers were always written in the neatest handwriting. If he made a mistake he had to start all over again. He used to be a straight A student, and if he didn't get that A he was grumpy for weeks. His clothes were colour coordinated in his closet; always ironed and always clean. He got a haircut every week, at the same time, at the same hairdresser and always looked clean, shaved and perfect.

Friends were not in Elliot's dictionary because, well, he didn't have any. He thought humans were boring. One of the reasons Elliot thought humans were boring was because they weren't perfect. And, good God, they didn't even try! Not even a slightest bit. Even if he tried to interact with humans, it would always leave him disappointed. As a result he was extremely disappointed and isolated himself from any human contact. The only human contact he had was with his co-workers. Keep in mind the human contact was forced. You would think he would get lonely but he didn't. Elliot didn't feel lonely, so he wasn't.